June 24, 2007

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

We have been busy catching fish for the last month, but not always the fish
we planned on.  Redfish have been around the docks, not hot 24/7 but worth
looking for.  Most have been oversized but still fun to catch.  A few snook,
sheepshead, black drum and snapper were also around.

We have a mixed bag on the grass-flats!  Seatrout, Bluefish, Spanish
mackerel, jack and an occasional pompano are some of species being caught.
Let's not forget the ladyfish.  D.O.A. shrimp and live shrimp are working
well along with whitebait for blues and mackerel.

The tarpon have not been good to me this year however I did see one day that
was good for boats with a tower.  The water was cloudy and bumpy.  The
tarpon were chewing but staying down so that you needed a tower to see them.
That day, if you could see them, you had them.

Offshore at the "I" artificial reefs, we found some hogfish and lane snapper
but the reefs were covered with Tomtate grunts and small triggerfish.  It
was much better further offshore in 40 feet of water and on hard bottom.
Here we found plenty of small sharks, gag grouper and mackerel but no
Tomtate grunts.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Cell: (941) 350-8583, Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


 

May 14, 2007
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Redfish have been cooperating around some of the docks on the bay and as
many have been over the slot as under the slot.  We also caught large and
small sheepshead in the same areas.  Live shrimp with a stout 3/0 hook and
40 pound test mono leader with a small split-shot just above the hook has
worked well.  I use at least 12 pound test line and a very tight drag.
Letting the fish take line under the docks is not an option.  Cast to all
the pylons and just under the docks.  Make sure you don't have a pylon
between you and your bait that a large fish can drag you around.  Keep the
line loose. Let the bait sink to the bottom and sit until you see the line
start to move.

Haig, Mike, and Ani Sarajian did well on reds last week, up to 31.5" and
limits in the slot.  We found our reds west of the ski ramp.

On the grass flats and in the passes, we caught lots of ladyfish but also
some Spanish mackerel, bluefish and pompano all on live shrimp.

So far, the tarpon and cobia have been spotty along the coast and it sounded
like LTs were hot well offshore.  Mackerel have also been good at times and
there were still a few kings around.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Cell: (941) 350-8583, Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


 

March 12, 2007

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Mack-Attack!  Kings offshore at the "M" reefs and Spanish on the bay!  The
kingfish have been hot offshore at most of the "M" reefs, 8 to 12 miles out.
By most methods, trolling or live bait, spoons, plugs, deep or flat have all
worked.  The reefs are also holding plenty of baitfish for your gold hook
rigs.

On the bay, large Spanish mackerel came in strong this weekend.  The average
size is about 2 to 3 pounds and hitting very well on live shrimp and
whitebait (pilchards) on a free-line.  Of course jigs and spoons also work
on mackerel.

The mackerel were in the passes and along the edges of the grass-flats in
deep water.  I used live shrimp for bait so that we would have a chance at
any pompano or permit that might pass by.  We also caught some cobia to 30"
and I would expect to see some larger ones along the beaches soon.  We also
had plenty of small bluefish in with the macks.

Spotted seatrout have started to school-up in some of the deeper holes
around the bay.  Most of the trout have been undersize, but it is good to
see them back.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Cell: (941) 350-8583, Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

February 26, 2007

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith


I have had very little to report this month.  Fishing has been very slow for
most of us!  The "I" reef just off the beach in 25 to 30 feet of water has
been the most consistent with large sheepshead and small bluefish.

Sheepshead feed on crustaceans and mollusks, dead or alive but not on fish.
Small live shrimp, crabs or sea worms as well as barnacles and oysters are
good bait.  Some anglers will use a shovel to scrape the barnacles off the
bridge pylons to start the fish feeding.

It is not uncommon to catch a six pound sheepshead on the "I" reefs, but
they can be hard to hook.  The saying goes "You need to set the hook before
they bite" and that has a lot of truth in it.  The sheepshead has a mouth
full of big teeth, similar to a sheep but biting very gently, crushing the
bait rather than pulling and jerking.  You need to raise the pole up and
down very slowly and when you feel any resistance, set the hook very hard.
Sometimes it will be just a snag but when the fish are biting well, it will
be just a matter of timing.  A very sharp and stout hook is needed because
they have a very hard mouth.  I use a Lazer Sharp, O'Shaughnessy L253 3/0
hook that I can only find in this size at BassPro.
 
This hook will penetrate the sheepshead jaw and can be hard to get out.
When the fish are biting fast, I close the barb so that I can get the hook
out faster.  I also use about 3' of 30lb mono leader with only a splitshot
to get it down.

The bluefish are no problem!  They eat everything any time, any place.

On the bay, it has been very slow!  There have been the occasional pompano,
snook, redfish, and seatrout but seldom a second fish. That would be a good
day.  When the water starts to warm up, I would expect the fishing to
pickup.  We have plenty of baitfish and crabs on the bay to hold some nice
fish.

I am having a new boat built and it should be finished by March 15th.  The
boat is a Panga 22' and you can see what it will look like on my website.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com



Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Cell: (941) 350-8583, Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


 

January 4, 2007

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Pompano have been showing up in the back-water on the bay.  Drop-offs along
the grass-flats and docks have been the hot spots, but they don't stay long
in one spot.  Live shrimp or tipped jigs have been working best.  Use DOA
shrimp or small live shrimp if you can find them or just cut the big ones up
and tip your jigs.  Bluefish have been in and around the passes, the
artificial "I" reefs and grass flats.  A few Spanish mackerel have been
mixed in with the bluefish.

Sheepshead fishing is picking up.  You can find some on any structure,
inshore or the coastal reefs.  They only like crustaceans or mollusks. They
don't eat fish, so shrimp will make good bait.

Snook and redfish are possible but not plentiful around the bay.

Cobia is just beginning to show along the coast but have been mostly less
than 33" long.  Checking the crab trap floats for tripletail is still a good
idea.  You want to free-line a live shrimp for tripletail.

Further offshore at the "M" reefs, kingfish have been picking up the action.
Live fish or trolling is working.  This should be the last of the kings as
the Gulf cools down.  The Spanish should stick around.

This is the first time that the bait shrimp have been too large for regular
fishing.  They are just right for large snook, redfish, grouper and Capt.
Bob's dinner.


Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Cell: (941) 350-8583, Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


 

November 26, 2006

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

The offshore fishing around the artificial "M" reefs has been hot for
kingfish and Spanish mackerel.  Deep trolling with small spoons has worked
best in the bumpy seas.  "M-9" has been extra good for the past week. There
has been plenty of baitfish around all of the artificial reefs, if you can
use them.  It was just too rough for me to comfortably fish very far
offshore and I don't troll with planers.  Some grouper have been caught in
90' feet of water about 25 miles offshore.

Closer to shore on the "I" artificial reefs, we had plenty of Spanish
mackerel, some bluefish and little tunny.  Again, it was trolling deep with
small spoons that worked best, but some days live bait or Diamond jigs
worked as well.

On the bay, it has been large schools of marauding ladyfish that have given
us most of the action for the past few weeks.  Live bait or jigs work well.
Friday and Saturday found most of the ladyfish south of Stickney Point Road.
Redfish, snook, mackerel, bluefish, pompano, triple-tail and an occasional
flounder were caught on the bay last week, but not a lot.  Harts reef is
holding lots of small gag grouper, some snapper and sheepshead.  I like to
anchor close or over a rock pile and fish the bottom with live shrimp and a
small splitshot.  Without the ladyfish on the grassflats, it has been very
slow fishing the flats on Sarasota Bay.  That might all changes in a day.

The fish are moving around!  So it won't be a bus run to find fish but at
least most of the species are returning to the bay.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com








Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Cell: (941) 350-8583, Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

 

September 15, 2006
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

The grass flats off of Stephens Pt. and north of the Ringling home are still
hot!  Today at first light, we found Tarpon all over the flats in small pods
feeding on the larger bait fish, like ladyfish.  The average size looked to
be about fifty pounds.  I have never seen so many tarpon in one place on
Sarasota Bay.  The tarpon were cruising the flats all morning.

We have also been catching blacktip sharks to 36" on DOA 3" shrimp and large
live shrimp.  Most of the steady action has been jacks, ladyfish and small
gag grouper.  If you have the time and the bait, you may hook-up with a nice
size pompano, sea trout, Mangrove snapper, and Spanish mackerel.  Schools of
small redfish have also visited us from time to time.

Redfish have been caught on a regular basis along the Rim Canal and
Buttonwood Harbor.

Offshore fishing has had a problem with the Redtide.  Finding and keeping
baitfish alive while passing through patches of red tide has been the
problem.  Using an aerator system instead of an intake system may work
better.

Although we have dead fish floating through the passes, most of the north
east side of the bay has been clear of the R-tide.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


 

September 03, 2006

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

For the last few weeks we have found plenty of action on the bay.  Yes!  We
have a Redtide along the beaches and in the passes, and that has not been
good.  I was able to find plenty of non-stop action on the grass-flats off
of Bishops Point, the John Ringling Home area.  Using DOA 3" shrimp lures
and starting at first light, 6:30am, we would drift over the grass and had
fish on for most of the four hours we fished.  The fish were mostly under
legal size or non eaters, but the variety of fish caught was outstanding.
The Spanish mackerel were all a nice size and you could increase the numbers
by using live pilchards, if you could find them.  The area is loaded with
bait-fish but none of it much bigger than a dime.  School reds sometimes
came to the flats and boiled the water.  But most of the time it was
bluefish, ladyfish, or jacks boiling the water.  It was all fun.  Some of
the fish we caught were trout, small grouper, flounder, and pompano.

Redfish have been caught along the west side of the bay from Country Club
Shores north to Buttonwood Harbor and beyond but are moving around so you
will need to hunt.  Snook are also possible in the same area.  That's all
history and what I find tomorrow morning is a new page.

I think the fish are being pushed up the bay by the Redtide but the bait
fish have been there all along.  Watch the birds to see where the fish are
feeding.

Offshore fishing at the "M" reefs has produced porgy, white grunt, and small
snapper.

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

 

July 13, 2006

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

For the last few weeks, we have been enjoying some good action along the
beach and on the bay.  The artificial (I) reefs in 25 to 30 feet of water
have been holding plenty of nice size Spanish mackerel.  We are also
catching barracuda, bluefish and sharks both large and small.  Live
pilchards or sardines have been the best bait for the macks and the mackerel
are good bait for the cuda and sharks.  We have been finding plenty of live
bait both inshore and offshore.

On the bay, the Ringling home grass flats have been hopping at first light.
The flats are covered with baitfish most of the day, but at first light,
6:30AM, the birds and fish are tearing them up.  Most of the fish are
ladyfish but in with them you will find bluefish, mackerel, trout, small
grouper, jack and snapper.  Live shrimp or pilchards have been working well.
D.O.A. shrimp is doing the job for me and with all of the pinfish returning
to the bay, it is hard to keep live bait on the hook.  Redfish and snook are
also being found around the bay by more patient anglers.

The bay is now loaded with baby gag grouper, snapper and hordes of pinfish.
This is a very good for the bay but may coast you more bait.  It is well
worth it seeing the bay come back.  Only the sea trout and flounder seem to
be scarce at this time.



Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

 

June 11, 2006

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Spanish mackerel have been hot along the beaches and best in thirty feet of
water!  The Lynn Silvertooth (I-1) reef is stacked up with large barracuda
that are feeding on the mackerel.  I have never seen so many large barracuda
in this close and this hungry.  We jumped four cuda in a row by pulling just
the head of one mackerel.  Dragging whole mackerel seemed to work best.

For the mackerel, I used live sardines or Diamond jigs on light tackle.  If
you are just looking for groceries or bait, small planers and spoons on
heavy tackle will limit you out quickly.

Tarpon are looking good along the beach for both anglers and sharks.  Some
tarpon have moved into the bay and I have seen them along the Country Club
Shores grass-flats.

Bluefish and ladyfish have been good on the bay middle ground grass flats.
I am starting to find some seatrout on the Ringling flats but very few
keepers.

Long runs offshore, 30/50 miles, still seem to be working for bigger fish,
but that could change any time.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

 

April 9, 2006

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

For the past couple of weeks, the magic numbers for King and Spanish
mackerel have been 12 to 33 foot depths and a water temperature of 72
degrees.  Large schools of anchovies have been holding the fish close to the
coast line.  Trolling small spoons and jigs on flat-line or with planers
have worked for the Spanish mackerel.  The kings want larger spoons, plugs
and live bluerunners.  Both on flat-line and planers have worked.  White
bait is not working well at this time.  Sardines and threadfin have been
hard to find.  Some cobia and LTs are also in the mix with the mackerel.
LTs are hard to catch when feeding on anchovies.  Tripletail is also being
caught around the crab-pot floats with live shrimp and small crabs.

The anchovies have been moving into the bay bringing some Spanish mackerel
and bluefish with them.  The ladyfish have been thick along Country Club
Shores and the Middle Ground grass flats.  The water will boil with feeding
fish but it has been hard to pick a mackerel out of it so far.  Jigs and
live shrimp have been working well on the bay.

There have been some nice catches of pompano and permit, but they won't stay
in one place long and may be found on the flats or the passes at any time.
Some nice snook are being caught but mostly by chumming with whitebait.
This method is very productive but I won't use it on snook and I do not call
it Sportfishing.  Snook are primarily nocturnal and feed best one hour
before and after a change of tide.  They also like first and last light.  If
fishing in a lit area at night, the snook will feed in the darker
surrounding areas, like shadows from the bridge.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com 


Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


 

February 28, 2006
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith


We have been able to keep the rods bent for the past week but most all of it
has been ladyfish.  Large schools of ladyfish have been held up in the
channel just south of the Siesta Key Bridge.  Using live shrimp and pompano
jigs for bait, we produced a few pompano in the mix.  Pompano are on the bay
but moving around and it is hard to get a fix on them, one here and one
there.  It has been the same with the redfish around the docks and cobia
along the beach.

Anchoring or drifting along the ICW is keeping us busy with the ladyfish.
Watching the porpoises feed on them next to the boat is also a blast.

Sheepshead fishing has been getting better around the docks and reef
structures and is a probable food source if needed.  We can expect the
fishing to improve as we move into March.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

 

January 25, 2006

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Fishing has been a very quiet for the past three weeks!  Moving around the
bay would produce at best only a stray bluefish or ladyfish for most of the
guide-boats in radio contact with me.  The "I" reefs just offshore were dead
and the water was very silty.  We couldn't lose bait.   The weather has been
perfect for the last week and we started to get some nice sheepshead on
Harts reef, in the middle of the bay.

The water is very clear on the reef and you can see all the piles of
structure on the bottom in six to ten feet of water.  Drop your anchor in a
sandy spot and let the boat drop back to the structure.  You can fish
straight down with a split shot or use a float and let your line drop back
to the structure.  Casting a weighted line into the structure will get
hung-up.  Sheepshead don't eat fish, so I use live shrimp.  The live shrimp
are very large now, so you will need to break them up.  A very sharp 2/0-3/0
hook on 30-40 pound mono leader works well.  The fish have been running 2-4
pounds with a few shorts under 12".  Don't confuse this fish with the
freshwater sheepshead in the north.  This fish is good to eat and not
related.

Offshore, the snapper have been good at about 18 miles out.  A few grouper
have been found in the same area.  The bad news is that the area is overrun
with Tomtate grunts.  They will eat a lot of your snapper bait, live shrimp
and I don't like to use them for grouper bait either.

The silty coastal water is due to the high winds we have had this month. I
feel that as it clears, the fish will move back closer to the coast and into
the bay.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com
 

January 2, 2006

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Happy New Year to you all!

The fishing on the bay has started to stabilize with snook, redfish,
bluefish, and sheepshead being the top contenders.  Some pompano in the
passes and even a few seatrout have been caught.  Fishing the docks south of
the Siesta key bridge has been the most productive for snook and redfish.  I
like to drift along the docks casting to and just a little under the dock
but never behind a pylon.  That could be instant death if you hook-up.  When
using live shrimp, I like to leave plenty of slack in the line and let it
sink to the bottom.  Sometimes I use a split-shot to help it sink.  When I
think it is on the bottom, I will take just enough slack so that I can tell
if something moves or taps the shrimp.  If nothing happens, I retrieve the
shrimp slowly, stopping every few feet.  When we do get a pickup, I stop the
drift and work that area.  Redfish and snook will often feed at only one
dock or pylon in the immediate area.  Snook sometimes prefer a free-lined
swimming shrimp over a shrimp on the bottom.  Blackdrum and sheepshead are
quick to eat if you get your shrimp close to a pylon.  Nothing is carved in
stone when fishing but the basics are the place to start.

When fishing under docks and around pylons, letting the fish take line when
he first picks up the bait is not an option.  You need to pull the fish away
from the structure and see that he is moving away before you can let him
take line.  You can just lock down your drag down to start with and then
loosen it if needed when you get him out of the structure.  For myself, I
prefer a method I call cupping the spool.  I set a firm but giving drag.
Before setting the hook on a pickup, I keep my rod tip pointed at the fish
and take out all the slack line.  Then I cup the spool with my left hand and
hold it tight when setting the hook while pulling the fish away from the
structure.  Often just holding the fish back will cause him to take the path
of least resistance and come straight at you.  When the fish is out of the
structure, you only need to open your hand to let him take drag, if needed.
Remember not to cast too far under the docks or behind a pylon or nothing
will work on a big fish.  Your line may break, but it will break a lot
faster if it touches any structure.

I use 12# test line with 30#-40#  mono leader, 3/0 hook and sometimes a #1
split-shot.  If you find some big guys, you're going to need to beef it up.

Offshore the snapper and grouper have been chewing from the "M" reefs out.
Take live shrimp for the snapper.  It has been a bit too bumpy for me, but
if you can handle the ride you will probably catch some nice fish.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com
 

December 11, 2005

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

The redfish slammed us Friday morning.  Around 8:00am Friday, I slid into
the Sands Point lagoon at New Pass and picked one of the new docks to start
at.  The dock was about halfway in and by pure luck, it was the only hot
spot in the lagoon all morning.  The average size was about 25" with a few
over the slot and only one under.  It was fish after fish until about
10:30am. It was also the start of an outgoing tide when we started fishing.


We caught a few bluefish, black drum, and sheepshead in the mix using the
large live shrimp that seem to be the only size the bait shops have at this
time.  I have never seen so many large shrimp being caught on the bay.  I
used a 3/0 hook with 40lb mono leader and one large split-shot.  Cast as
close to the pylon as you can letting it sink to the bottom with plenty of
slack in your line.  When you think it is on the bottom, take out most of
the slack so that you can see if a fish moves your line. Then sometimes you
will need to move it slowly across the bottom.  Regardless of how they chew,
the one thing you can never do is let them get back to the pylons ounce you
have them hooked.

We finished off the day with bluefish in New Pass.  The blues were thick on
the south side at the end of the old docks, going out.  I used the same rig
as for the redfish but broke the shrimp into smaller pieces.  We drifted
with the out going tide and let the large split-shot take the bait to the
bottom.  Small jigs work as well but all must get to the bottom.  The
bluefish were running two to three pounds.  They are the right size and just
in time to pickle for New Years.  The recipe for pickled bluefish is on my
website.

On Saturday, the redfish did not return but the bluefish did.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

 

December 5, 2005

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

The big cobia and pompano run didn't last long.  This past week produced
very few fish, inshore and offshore.  The big boats had to run thirty miles
or more to find fish.  I was out Friday for a six hour trip on the bay and
we did not land the first fish, and Saturday's trip was postponed until
February.  The bay water was crystal clear and it was a good time to view
the artificial reefs on the bay.  As we drifted across Harts reef you could
see every brick, shell, and reef-ball on the bottom.  The only fish I saw
was a few small schools of sheepshead that we lost a few baits too. No
grunts, pinfish, or any other little reef fish was around.  There are plenty
of small crabs and shrimp on the bay and this will bring in the fish when
the water condition improves.

Offshore, along the beaches and further out, the water was very dirty and
fishless.

The fishing had been very good a couple of weeks ago and we thought we where
out of the woods.  It was cobia and pompano that where the heavy hitters
that week.  Then the cold fronts came and also the Redtide reappeared.  The
good fishing stopped as fast as it had started.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


 

November 12, 2005

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

The fish are in and the Redtide is out!  The cobia are thick along the beach
and the artificial "I" reefs.  Cobias up to thirty pounds have been caught
and fifteen to twenty pounds is average size.  Live shrimp is doing the job
but cobia will eat everything it sees, including top water plugs or diving
jigs.

On the bay, the pompano are starting to show in Big Pass and on the flats.
It has not been a hard run but some nice size fish.  Jigs tipped with pieces
of shrimp or whole sand fleas are working.  Small snook have been plentiful
for the anglers chumming with whitebait.  Sheepshead is also on the chew for
shrimp or crabs. They can be caught both inshore and offshore and found on
any structure.

Offshore around the Cudahole and any of the (M) reefs have all turned on.
Everything seemed to come back in a day.  Nice snapper and grouper are on
the bottom with plenty of Spanish and LTs on top with just a hint of
KingfishJ.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com
 

October 22, 2005

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith


Spanish mackerel have started to run along the beaches and on the bay!  The
inshore (I) reefs have been holding most of the mackerel in 18 to 30 feet of
water.  Live pilchards, live shrimp, and small Diamond jigs are working
well.  If you are using jigs, work them as fast as you can.  The bite is
sporadic at best and you need to get on the fish quick when they surface.

On the bay and on most of the flats it has been mostly jack and ladyfish,
some mackerel, bluefish, and snapper but they are moving fast and you need
to move around.  We have been finding some redfish, sheepshead and snook
around the docks, but the snook have been better for the night fishermen.
Snook are nocturnal by nature.

Offshore, it has been a long run of 30 to 70 miles to find good fishing and
not much in-between.

The fishing is not hot but it is coming back!  Crabs and most crustaceans
have done well during the Redtide.  This could be contributed to being
immune to the tide and the demise of many of the trash-fish (Oysterfish)
that fed upon them.  This could result in a good run on cobia, pompano,
permit, and sheepshead this Fall.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


 

September 8, 2005

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

All the fish are not dead!
The bay fishing is improving!  Most of our species we normally catch have
been caught this past week.  During the past week we caught snook, redfish,
sea trout, pompano, flounder, mangrove snapper, grouper, ladyfish,
sheepshead, and jacks.  It sounds good but except for the ladyfish and small
snapper.  They were hard to find and most were very small.  Michael Holman
of Winter Park FL did catch a nice three pound pompano at the Ringling grass
flats.  It was his first pompano.

The Ringling grass flats are holding plenty of bait fish and more small
crabs than I have ever seen.  Sometimes the silver dollar size crabs would
latch onto our shrimp as soon as it started to sink.  On my last trip, we
had been fishing the Ringling flats and had started home.  I had just got
the boat up on plane when all the water around us for about a quarter of a
mile exploded with jumping, feeding fish, and diving birds.  We were just
off of Harts reef in ten feet of water.  It seemed to be all large ladyfish
but I also thought I might have seen some mackerel jump.  We stopped to
threw some diamond jigs and had a blast for about twenty minutes and left
them biting.

Redfish and snook have been mostly active south of the bay, Siesta Key
Bridge to Roberts Bay.  Fishing the backwaters and docks has produced a few
nice fish.

Offshore fishing has been very hard!  One of the charter boats I talked to
had run 47 miles to find good fishing.  Some of the "M" reefs have been
holding permit but you need to take along small live crabs for bait.

The nice thing about saltwater fishing is that we don't need to wait for the
fish to grow up after a fish kill like this.  On the bay the bait has
survived, so now larger fish will move in to take advantage of the thriving
baitfish, crabs, and shrimp.

The Redtide has been killing sea life long before man walked on the earth.
It is world wide and very little is known about it.  Its stimulus could be
due to a combination of things like climate and pollution, both natural and
man made.  It was here before us, so we can't blame the white-man for this
one :).  Russia has found that if you dust the Redtide with clay, it will
stick to the clay and sink to the bottom of the sea.  Not much for all the
research that has been put into this over the years.  I am sure we will hear
a lot more theories without foundations in the future.  Stopping the dumping
of sewage is good regardless! 


Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

 

July 23, 2005
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

We have had at least three weeks of Redtide and most all of the fish are
gone.  Mote marine is saying that the Redtide is starting to move north and
out of the Sarasota area.  If this comes to be, it should take about three
weeks to see or notice the fish moving back and about three months for the
bay to get back to normal.

The Redtide is a natural phenomenon that dates back to prehistoric time.
You could look at it as nature's way of leveling the playing field.  The
Redtide will kill fish in a relativity small area as it moves along.  Sea
life from the surrounding areas will move in then and repopulate.  This may
help to keep over population of some species in check and improve the
genetic mixing of others.

Who knows?  What I do know is that it is not a good time to go fishing
unless you just want a boat ride and maybe wet a line.

The skinny water boats have been able to find some snook and redfish both
north and south of Sarasota bay.  You will need to work your way back to
better water.  I did find large schools of small baitfish on the north end
of the bay.  The birds and small ladyfish were working them hard.  The
ladyfish were too small to catch but it was a good sign.

The artificial "M" reefs offshore have held some permit and snapper, but
some boats are running twenty five miles to find good fishing or should I
say, better fishing.




Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

June 11, 2005
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Mangrove snapper and barracuda have been hot this past week on the "M"
reefs.  We were able to limit out on the snapper using live shrimp on the
bottom.  The cuda are taking live fish on a free-line or by skipping fresh
caught mackerel on the top.  Chris Bengele from Indiana caught a nice
barracuda on light tackle while fishing for snapper.  Mark Zisser from
Missouri with friend limited out and released plenty of snapper plus some
nice mackerel.

On Wednesday, we found plenty of Spanish mackerel and bluefish on and around
the (I) reefs just offshore.  D.O.A. shrimp and live shrimp worked very
well.  We would find schools of nice fish and then schools of very small
fish.  We saw sharks feeding in the schools of fish and bait early in the
morning, but we didn't hook any.  Now is a good time to get that First-light
bite at 6:30 in the morning.

Bay fishing has been slow but workable.  Redfish, Snook, Mackerel, and
Seatrout are all being caught, but you need to move around and find Redtide
free water.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com



Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

June 2, 2005
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith


We had some fair action along the beach with Spanish mackerel through the
weekend.  The action was not fast but it was steady throughout the day.  We
probably could have picked up the pace by using live pilchards or artificial
baits but we were hoping to pickup a cobia or a nice reef fish on the large
live shrimp.  In with the macks, we had very small bluefish and an
occasional school of little tunny running through the baitfish making a lot
of noise.

On the bay, we found some keeper trout along Country Club Shores but more
shorts than keepers.  The action had been better north of Longbar earlier in
the week.  Some nice redfish had also been caught over the long weekend.

I am sure the Redtide is affecting the fishing to some extent, but no big
fish kills that I know of yet.  Maybe all this rain will wash it away.  We
never know what the Redtide will do!  May was a slow month for fishing, as
Mays go.  The month of May can be a very good month for all kinds of
fishing.  We did have some good days for king mackerel during the first half
of May.  Let's hope June will kick-in and make up for May!

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com



Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

May 21, 2005
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

King mackerel are still hot on the artificial "M" reefs.  King, Spanish, and
barracuda have been plentiful using live bait.  We have also been able to
find plenty of sardines around New Pass and on the reefs.  In the same area,
a few nice grouper and snapper have been caught on the bottom with live
shrimp and pilchards.

The bay has also been producing although the runs have been  cold and hot
throughout the day.  Large trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and some
pompano are being caught on the grass flats but you need to move around.
The DOA shrimp and large live shrimp have both worked well.  You can find
small snapper, black seabass and small grouper around most of the under
water structures.  Snook and redfish will be getting thick around the docks
and boats.  You can net plenty of whitebait at first-light just south of the
New Pass sailboats, halfway between the sailboats and Bird Key Park.

Tarpon have started to chew and are being jumped but it could be better.
Live crabs are good bait and can be found at most of the bait shops.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

April 13, 2005

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

This past week it was Kings on the right!  As you head out into the gulf via
New Pass, turn right at the last green marker and start fishing.  King
mackerel have been plentiful and twenty pounds a common size.  Live herring
has been the best bait and easily caught in the same area using Sabiki or
any gold hook bait rigs.

The best method has been to free-line live herring while drifting and slow
troll it back to your starting point up wind.  Use a short light wire leader
and a 4/0 or 5/0 hook.  Number 3 or 5 coffee mono leader no more six inches
long and black swivel is all you need.  Some anglers do add a stinger hook
for more hook-ups.

I like to make plenty of leaders up before hand.  To save time and possibly
fingers, I like to leave the leader with a hot fish and retie a new leader
on the line.  You can retrieve the good un-kinked leaders later when the
fish is dead.  It is very important to have a straight leader.

Plenty of twelve to twenty pound test line is a good match for the kings.
Kings like to make about three long runs when using a fee-line with live
bait.  We found Spanish mackerel, an occasional shark and sometimes a
grouper in with the kings.  It is also a good time to keep an eye open for
cobia.

The fishing along the beach was good enough on some days to bring the bigger
charter boats back in from offshore.

Bay action has been fast and with a good variety of fish.  Keeper fish for
the table has been harder to find although some good catches have been made.
Trout, reds, snook, mackerel, ladyfish, jacks and flounder are just some of
the species being caught on the bay.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

April 2, 2005

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

The magic numbers are here!  As the Gulf's temperature rises to over seventy
degrees, the fishing is starting to percolate.  King mackerel are starting
to be caught in thirty to seventy feet of water by trolling or live bait.
They are not in thick schools yet, but are being caught frequently.  Large
schools of blacktip sharks seemed to be everywhere on Thursday.  Spanish
mackerel have been hot along the beaches and the artificial (I) reefs in
twenty to thirty feet of water.  The Spanish mackerel have also been spotty
on the bay.  Large schools of baitfish started moving into the bay and the
action started to pick up on Friday.

Also on Friday, some boats found large grouper and snapper chewing very good
in eighty feet of water.  They also stopped at the "M" reefs on the way out
for some kings.  Take plenty of live pinfish and shrimp and don't forget the
Sabiki rigs.

Cobias are also in the mix along the beaches but they are just starting.
Sheepshead, grouper, snapper, flounder and sharks are some of the others
hanging out around the (I) reefs in 20 to 30 feet of water.

We had plenty of light tackle action on the bay.  Most of the action has
been ladyfish but some anglers have been able to limit out on 18" plus
trout.  Pompano, mackerel, redfish, snook, snapper, sheepshead, bluefish and
even a few keeper size grouper have been part of the mix.

It all sounds good but it is no free lunch, you still need to work at it to
get the keeper fish.  DOA shrimp and live shrimp have been working will for
me.

The high winds have been a problem but the Red tide seems to be gone, for
now.

Enjoy & Protect

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

March 12, 2005

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Although the fishing has been limited due to the red-tide and poor weather
conditions, I still found the sheepshead plentiful and averaging 3 to 6
pounds on the (I) reefs just off of Lido beach.  You can find them on any
good bottom, artificial or natural in 20 to 30 feet of water.  We had fast
action on live shrimp fishing the bottom.

It is important to anchor directly over the structure.  Drop your lines
straight down to the bottom and then pick them up just a bit to avoid snags.
I use a ¼ to a ½ ounce of lead, a very sharp and stout 3/0 hook and forty
pound mono leader.  The hook I prefer for light-tackle bottom fishing on the
reefs is the Eagle Claw L253, 3/0.  I can only find this size, L253 at Bass
Pro.  The hook is sharp enough to penetrate the jaw of a sheepshead and is
strong enough to hold a big cobia.  The other thing is that they only cost
about a dime each, so you can afford to lose a few on the bottom.  One of
the problems is that once you penetrate the jaw of a sheepshead, it is hard
to back the hook out.  You can eliminate this by squeezing the barb closed
and fish barb-less or cut the hook off and retie a new hook.

Some nice keeper size gag grouper are also being caught in with the
sheepshead on the live shrimp.  You also will find flounder, triggerfish and
grunts in the same place as the sheepshead.  The cliché about sheepshead is
“You need to hook them just before they bite”, good luck.

I would say that sheepshead is better tasting than redfish or trout but not
close to grouper or flounder.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com 

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

February 18, 2005
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

The Red Tide has backed off some in the last few days and the fishing has
picked up.  The artificial “I” reefs off Lido beach in 25 to 30 feet of
water are packed with large sheepshead and small schools of bluefish.  You
may also hook an occasional keeper size gag grouper, snapper or flounder.
Large live shrimp fished on the bottom has been working well.

Longer offshore trips have been finding plenty of snapper and a mixed bag of
reef fish in 50’ plus depths on natural and artificial bottom.  Live shrimp
is still the bait to have if you want a lot of action.  I would still take
some pinfish along.

We found the action on the bay very good in some spots and null in others.
Fishing the grass flats at Country Club Shores and using the DOA ¼ ounce
shrimp, we had trout on every cast for most of the trip.  We used both the
float and the free line method.  Most all of the trout were under size but
an occasional a keeper was caught along with some bluefish and flounder.
Some nice trout and redfish were also taken north of Longbar and the
Buttonwood Harbor area.

We have not had a major fish kill on the bay due to the red tide this year,
but I do feel it is causing the fish to move around to avoid the bad spots.
You may need to do the same to find the fish this weekend.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

January 15, 2005

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

It looks like this coming week will be a blowout!  A few days ago, I was
able to get on to some keeper gags just three miles off of Lido Key.  I had
not been out for a few days and the captains that had, told me that the gags
had gotten hard to find. 

We left the dock a little late that day but we passed the other boats by the
bell buoy still catching bait for a long run offshore.  We had plenty of
large live shrimp on board and I had planned to fish closer in with light
tackle.  I went to a small two foot high ledge in about thirty feet of water
that I call the grunt hole.  The ledge runs about 200 feet parallel with the
beach and then dog legs towards the beach at the north end.  Close to the
dog leg is my favorite spot.

I was glad I had my old X-16 paper recorder on board.  My color sonar was in
for repairs.  Lowrance stopped making the X-16 paper recorder, so I baby it.
My first pass over the ledge was one digit off of my GPS and the bottom was
clear.  I came back over on zero and saw the beautiful sharp inverted “V’s”.
By their size, they tell me that we have a few large fish on the bottom with
plenty of small dashes all around for the smaller grunts, etc.

I threw a marker buoy on the spot and started with a drift.  The drift was
slow and the water calm. I put two ¼ ounce split-shots on, just above the
3/0 hook.  This was enough to take the twelve pound test lines with the live
shrimp down to the bottom.  You also need to lock the drags down when
fishing grouper.  We did not catch a keeper gag on the drift but found the
fish hitting only close to the marker.  I anchored the boat and fished that
small spot.  We soon had our first keeper gag.  We spent the morning
catching plenty of husky short grouper, numerous reef fish and one more
keeper gag.  We also lost some good ones.  I checked via VHF with the boats
fishing the “M” reefs further offshore and found that no keeper grouper had
been caught that morning.  I did see one six pound flounder come from that
area.  It wasn’t a great day anywhere that morning, but my group of four
went home with enough grouper for one big fish fry that night.

The bay grass flats have been producing plenty of sea trout but most are
small.  Black seabass are one of the perks while fishing the artificial
reefs in the bay.  Black seabass are at the top of my menu for frying.  We
are also finding sheepshead, snapper, and gag grouper in the same areas.
Live shrimp or DOA works for all.


Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

January 1, 2005

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

This is the time for the gag grouper to be in close and they are!  The wind
and cold has given us some problems with finding them along the beaches and
on the "I" reefs because of the silty cold water.   We are finding some on
the bay at places like Harts reef but it has been very good from about the
35' depths and further out to 50'.  Snapper are also coming in with the
grouper along with a large variety of reef fish.  Boats going out with
plenty of live shrimp and pinfish have loaded up.  Large schools of pinfish
have been hanging around the 35' to 40' depth.  Gold hook bait rigs will
catch all the pinfish you need if you find them.

Take plenty of large live shrimp with you and fish the bottom.  You may need
to move to save bait if the triggerfish and grunts get too thick.  They can
go through a 100 shrimp in no time at all.  Of course, that is if you don't
want them.  Any small white grunts you catch, keep for grouper bait.  The
grouper have been eating shrimp and live fish equally but the shrimp will
kick up the action. This will get all the fish feeding and the mangrove
snapper love shrimp.

You need to use your chart recorder "fish finder".  They have been moving
around and no one but close friends and family is going to give you their
grouper numbers or wave you over to fish.  If this is knew to you, look for
rough bottom, mark it, and fish it.  Grouper often blend into the bottom on
most recorders and just look like rough bottom. Unless you know what the
bottom should normally look like, you'll just need to try it.  Also lock
your drag down.  You can't let grouper run at all or they will cut you off
on any structure.  Use 20-50 pound test line.  At this time, the grouper are
averaging 6-12 pounds. The average fight is only a minute or so, but they
will hit you with sucker punch you won't believe.  I have see experienced
captains have the rod snatched out of their hands, rods broken over the side
of the boat, people falling down or hitting themselves in the head with the
rod and reel handles breaking off.  Once you have him coming up, it is all
over, unless something bigger grabs him.  Everybody likes to eat grouper.

Large schools of pompano have been encountered on the grass flats but are
not sticking around too long.

Happy New Year
Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

December 4, 2004

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Grouper on the bay!  Yes, this is the time of year that small boaters have a
chance to limit out on keeper size gag grouper and the occasional black
grouper.  They are hard to tell apart but are equal in table fair and have
to be a minimum size of 22".  You are allowed five grouper total per day.
Harts Reef has been one hot spot, but they can be found on any structure,
deep channel, docks, or artificial reef around the bay.  I need to note that
I could not get any to bite yesterday but this was probably due to the
weather.

A popular method of fishing for them is trolling large deep diving plugs
slowly.  I prefer live, fresh caught, medium size pinfish or grunts.  I like
to cast free-line baitfish to the structure because if he sees the grouper
he won't swim to it.  When the grouper are at their best, the pinfish will
dance on the surface and as soon he sinks you will have a fish on.  You
should not anchor over a structure like you would offshore because the water
is too shallow on the bay and you will spook the larger fish.  Use no less
then twenty pound test line and forty to sixty pound mono leader.  Lock the
drag down!  You can't let grouper take any line or they will put into the
rocks or cut you off.

The other hot fish on the bay has been pompano.  Pompano are being caught
consistently in the afternoon on the Middle Ground grass flats with some
good runs in Big Pass during the morning.  Tipped pompano jigs, small live
shrimp, DOA shrimp, and on fly have all been working well.

The fish are here but the weather will turn them on and off.  You do have
hope and that is all we can ask for when we go fishing.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com  

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Fax on request: 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

November 21, 2004

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

The Middle Ground grass flats are holding some nice pompano, cobia, and
bluefish.  Towards the end of last week, we found that the large mackerel
and kings had moved off the beach and we were inundated by small Spanish
mackerel and large ladyfish.  They were feeding on large schools of glass
minnows in about twenty feet of water.  We used ¼ ounce Diamond jigs to
catch the mackerel.  You need to move them as fast as you can for the macks.
Other boats told me that the kingfish action was only moderate out on “M”
reefs but the groupers are chewing well further off shore.

Moving on to the middle ground grass flats, we would see an occasional
pompano skipping the water and that is when starts to get good for pompano.
We found a good variety of fish on the grass but the bite was on and off.
The off could last for some time but was worth the wait.  We caught small
cobia but another boat caught a 26 pound fish on 8 pound test line that took
about 45 minutes to land.  We caught pompano over three pounds, bluefish
around three pounds.  In the mix were flounder, mackerel, trout, whiting,
jacks, and ladyfish.  We also found pompano on the south side of the twin
bridges.  Live shrimp, DOA shrimp, pompano jigs all worked well.  White bait
also worked but not well for the pompano.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: (941) 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

November 13, 2004

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

A full house is the way I would describe the fishing around the Sarasota
area this past week.  From the bay to the deep Gulf, it has been an
overlapping of summer and winter species.

Long offshore trips have produced some large dolphin, kingfish, grouper,
snapper, and amberjack.  Inshore and coastal trips have produced redfish,
snook, trout, cobia, flounder, mackerel, bluefish, tripletail, etc.

I would like to point out that the above does not mean that you need to make
room in your home freezer if you plan to go fishing.  The bite is not 24/7
and you still need to work at it.  It does mean however, that you have a
chance at a large variety of fish and getting on a good bite.

Many methods are being used and are working at this time but if you would
like to kick it up a notch, here are a few tips.  If you are going to use
live pinfish and grunts for grouper, I like to catch them just before I go
offshore.  Pinfish kept overnight will definitely catch fish but fresh
caught via hook and line will double the bite.  This becomes more apparent
if you fish closer to the coast. Taking live shrimp and small crabs along
for permit, tripletail, snapper, and cobia is also a good idea.  Being able
to net your own white-bait is always a plus for bay or gulf fishing. Two
things I always have on board are plenty of gold hook bait rigs, "Sabiki
rigs" for offshore and D.O.A. 3" shrimp for bay and coastal.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: (941) 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

November 5, 2004

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

The fall run is working and everyone is finding fish.  From the back waters
on Sarasota Bay to the sixty foot depths offshore, anglers are finding the
species they want.  Some days are better than others and none of the fish
have been stacked up for very long, but all in all it has been a good fall
run.

Most of the grouper and snapper are being caught out deep but the kings and
Spanish have been hitting from the beach out to the sixty foot depth.  The
Spanish are also on the bay grass flats and in the passes.  Snook and
redfish are in the back water.  Cobia although sparse, has been caught on
the bay and Gulf.

Pompano are starting to show and I am hoping to see a good run this year.
Pompano action has been slow for the last several years but the South East
coast had an exceptionally good spring run this year.

Pompano only feed on crustaceans or mollusks and will take a small round
jig, ¼ to ½ oz. bounced on the bottom.  The best colors are chartreuse,
yellow, and sometimes white.  The jig needs to have short hair no longer
than the bend of the hook.  Tipping the jig with a small piece of shrimp or
a live sand flea will work wonders.  Sand fleas are the best bait you can
have for pompano but they are hard to find on this coast and hard work when
you do find them.  Sand fleas are found in the surf along the coastal
beaches.  For the hard core pompano angler, there is no other bait and well
worth the work and time.  If you do find some fleas, don’t put them in a
bucket of water, they will drown.  Keep sand fleas in damp sand, paper or
cloth but not too damp.  I never had any good results with frozen or fresh
dead fleas.  Small live shrimp would be a better choice if not using a jig.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: (941) 362-4040

My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

August 1, 2004
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith


Spanish mackerel and barracuda have been fairly good on the artificial "M"
reefs.  Much of the action has been done by trolling small artificial bait
for the Spanish mackerel and using the mackerel for the cuda.  Snapper
fishing has been good if you can find the right size bait. Some of the boats
have been traveling further south to the Icebox area in 50 to 70 feet of
water for a little better bottom fishing.  You need large shrimp or small
baitfish (pilchard or whitebait) for snapper and live are best.

On the bay, we have had a good variety of fish but the bites are only
lasting fifteen to thirty minutes and then they're gone.  Spotted seatrout,
jacks, ladyfish, bluefish, Pompano, snook, and redfish have been some of the
species caught.  Between four people, you may catch 30 to 40 fish in a half
day trip but you would be lucky to get four keepers out of it.

Most of the fish have been moving around the grassflats and chasing the
small baitfish. When you find the fish, everyone will catch them one after
another but when they stop, it may be an hour before catching anything else.
The D.O.A. shrimp is working great on the bay for us.  We left a large
school of trout and ladyfish chewing hard just east of the Zwicks channel
sand bar on Saturday.  The fish were breaking all around us.  Large schools
of under size trout were swarming under and around are D.O.A. shrimp at the
side of the boat.  Some mackerel and bluefish were also in the mix.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: (941) 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

June 30, 2004
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith


The bay fishing has slowed down while fishing the offshore "M" reefs has
staid hot, most of the time.  Kings, barracuda, permit, cobia, and plenty of
sharks are being caught on the "M" reefs.  An occasional sailfish has also
been caught or seen in the same area.  Live sardines and herring on a free
line are working best and are plentiful from the beach out.

Make sure to take a few "Sabiki" gold hook rigs along!  The fresh sardines
also make excellent cut bait for bottom fishing.  If you plan on doing some
bottom fishing, throw a few on the ice and you will have a nice firm bait to
fish with.  If you are looking for permit, take some large live shrimp or
small crabs because permit feed only on crustaceans.  I always have plenty
of D.O.A. shrimp on hand for this.

Bay fishing dropped off late last week but may have picked up by now.  The
variety of fish on the bay was good but the numbers were down.  Trout,
snook, redfish, mackerel, bluefish, snapper, and flounder are all being
caught but the action has been very slow.  Snook have been good along the
beaches and in the passes.  Redfish have been caught in the small channel
running south of Buttonwood harbor.  The D.O.A. shrimp has been working well
for me on the grass flats.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com



Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: (941) 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

June 3, 2004
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Kingfish, barracuda and little tunny are still active on most of the “M”
reefs but you may need to have patience between chews.  We have also had
plenty of baitfish schools from the beach out to the “M” reefs.

Along the beaches, it has been tarpon and some very large hammer head
sharks.  One that I did not see was estimated at 16 feet by other guides.
John Swinehart of TN landed a five and a half foot tarpon while fishing with
me on Friday.  He caught the tarpon on live crab and twenty pound test line.
I would estimate the fish to weigh a little over a hundred pounds and it
took an hour to bring it to the boat.

Bay fishing has produced seatrout, flounder, bluefish, ladyfish and jacks on
most of the grass-flats.  The fish are in small schools and moving around.
The action was on and off but good for most of the morning hours.  We caught
all of our fish on D.O.A. ¼ ounce shrimp.

Snook got hot in the surf when the beach got choppy from the westerly wind.
Remember, it is catch and release on the snook at this time.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: (941) 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

May 16, 2004

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

King mackerel are still hot on the "M" reefs.  Live Whitebait netted on the
beach or in the bay and sardines via Sabiki rigs are doing the job.

Rigging: A six inch length of number 3 to 5 coffee wire leader, backed off
with four feet of 40# to 50# mono.  Hook size depends on bait size, 3/0 to
5/0 works for me.  I like a single hook but many anglers like to add a
stinger hook.

Tip: If you find the fish not chewing, take all the rigging off and tie the
hook directly to your line.  You may lose a hook but I have caught a lot of
toothy fish this way when they get picky.  If you lose a hook, you will at
least know you have fish in the area.

Spanish mackerel fishing has been good along the beach and "I" reefs.  We
caught all of ours on D.O.A. 3" shrimp and live shrimp.  Whitebait is also
working very well.  The average Mack has been 2-3 pounds.  Flounder, snapper
and grouper are some of the other species being caught on the artificial
reefs.

Tarpon are being caught along the beaches but they are sporadic at best.
Last week we tried for tarpon along Longboat Key.  We had about two hours
before the south wind started to rip and we had to give it up.  We never saw
the first tarpon and other reports have also been bad.  We ran from New Pass
to Longboat Pass and only passed one other boat looking for the big fish.

Bay fishing has been very active with sea trout, mackerel, bluefish,
ladyfish, an occasional pompano and small cobia, and all on the grass flats.
Snook have been stacking up around some of the docks and bridges.  You may
find more bluefish in one area and more trout in another.  The fish have
been bunched up, so your drift will be hot and cold.  The D.O.A. 3" shrimp
has produced a large variety of fish.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: (941) 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

May 2, 2004
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

King mackerel are still hitting hard offshore at the "M" reefs.  All methods
of baiting are working but live bait is top gun.  Sardines, herring, and
blue runners are plentiful at the "M" reefs, so don't forget your Sabiki
rigs.  Pilchards are along the beaches but so far they have been hard to
net.  Some fish have been deep but a free-line will work most of the time.
I use only one hook, 3/0 to 5/0, depending on the size of the bait.  Many
anglers will ad a second stinger hook if the fish are hitting short.  I like
to use only six inches of light steel leader and back it off with about
three to four feet of forty pound mono.  I like to catch the kings on twelve
to twenty pound test line.  Some sailfish have been reported in the same
area also.

Tarpon have been seen along the beach but are very thin so far.  It is time
for them to run but I don't have much news yet.  I will be looking for them
like everyone else, at least until the end of June.

We have been keeping busy on the bay with trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish,
and ladyfish.  They have been moving around on the grass flats.  Most of the
trout have been small but the number of keeper size fish is improving every
day.  I have found the Ringling flats to be the most consistent this past
week.  I used nothing but ¼ ounce DOA shrimp all week while fishing the bay
and found them outstanding.  Snook and redfish are being caught around docks
and backwater but no hard runs that I know of.  Pompano and cobia have been
caught although they have been are very scarce.

Bottom fishing offshore has produced some snapper and grouper in the fifty
and over depths.  Shrimp for the snapper and live pinfish for the grouper
have been top baits.  You can buy the pinfish but catching your own just
before you go out can dramatically increase your catch.  Fishing very light
for the snapper will also increase your snapper catch but you might lose a
keeper grouper.  I keep one rod for snapper and one for grouper and switch
when necessary.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com




Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: (941) 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

April 18, 2004
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Yes, the kings are in but dragging a fin.  Before the blow started last week
we had king mackerel throughout the Cudahole area but the action was spotty.
The best king action was well south of M-6 in the Icebox area.  Last
Thursday and Friday after the blow, the offshore boats had to run over
twenty miles out to find clear, fishable water.  The silt should have
settled by now and fishing should be back to normal.  We had been getting
plenty of mangrove snapper on the "M" reefs but not much on the on the
closer "I" reef.  The bottom action on the "I" reefs should pickup soon and
I expect to see cobia action intensify.

The bay action was for hot trout on Friday, and they gobbling up ¼ ounce
D.O.A. shrimp faster then the live shrimp.  Unfortunately, most of the trout
where under size but plentiful and we had fun.  We did not find the variety
of fish we had been getting before the blow but I expect them to start
showing up this weekend.  Spanish mackerel, bluefish, snook, and cobia had
been around and probably still are, just not chewing with all the silt in
the water.  This is the season for some of our best fishing if the weather
cooperates.

I am sorry for the long delay between reports but this spring brake has been
very busy for me.  Twelve hour a days on the water and doing catch-up in the
other twelve leaves little time for reports.  Then the wind and rain started
and I had nothing to say.

If you plan on trying a D.O.A. lure for the first time, remember to work as
slow as you can, three small snaps and let it sink.  With light tackle you
need to strike it very hard to set the hook because of all that plastic
around the hook, and also it is rigged weed-less.  Don't change the rigging,
it has perfect balance as is, but check for hook sharpness often!  Fish
don't just strike a D.O.A. but eat and swallow them.  I may move the lure
fast when a school of mackerel.

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com




Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: (941) 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

March 13, 2004
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Kings have started to show up off of Venice in fifty feet of water.
Blackfin tuna have also made their traditional spotty appearances in deep
offshore water.  Good catches of grouper have been made in 80 to 150 foot
depths.  On the Cudahole and "M" reefs, there are large numbers of mangrove
snapper but they have been on the small side.  The Cudahole area has also
produced a few nice groupers this past week.  The king mackerel are close
and may show up here this weekend.

Closer inshore on the "I" reefs; you should find plenty of large sheepshead
from three to five pounds.  Cobia have started to show up along the beaches
and have been caught up to thirty pounds.

The bay has been hot!  Not 24/7 due to the cold fronts and wind but very
good most of the time.  There has been plenty of Spanish mackerel, bluefish,
trout and an occasional pompano on the Middle ground grass flats.  Schools
of large trout have been moving around the bay and in and out of the deeper
channels.  Some large snook and nice redfish have also been caught this past
week.  The passes have been holding mackerel, bluefish and whiting.

The bait has been mostly live shrimp on the bay and for the sheepshead and
snapper offshore.  With all the action, artificial baits have also worked
well, fly's included.  Offshore it has been live sardines on top and pinfish
on the bottom.  Trolling has worked well for some, especially on the rough
days.  Sounds like it is time to go fishing!

Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com



Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: (941) 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

February 22, 2004
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

We finished the week with plenty of hot action!  By Saturday the bay was
full of nice size Spanish mackerel, sea trout, some nice pompano, permit,
bluefish and an occasional redfish.  Sheepshead are also thick along with
the mackerel on the "I" reefs.  On Friday, David Rosevear from Connecticut
had his first shot at saltwater fly fishing with me. He landed trout,
pompano and mackerel on a sinking Clouser fly "Shrimp".  Unfortunately, a
mackerel is now wearing his lucky fly.  Live shrimp has been the best bait
for both inshore and offshore.  We have been using the shrimp on a free-line
and giving it a little movement which has been very productive.  Most of the
action has been on the grass flats and not the passes, that is, up to now.

Offshore at the Cudahole area, it has been mostly mangrove snapper on the
bottom with live shrimp.  An occasional keep grouper is also being caught on
live shrimp, pinfish or other small baitfish.  Further offshore, like at the
"9", it has been big amberjack bending the poles.  AJs around a hundred
pounds have been caught in deep water but some days it has been a hard ride
for even the big boats.

Enjoy & Protect

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: (941) 362-4040
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

January 28, 2004

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report

By Capt. Bob Smith

It is switch on, switch off fishing this time of year!  If you have read a good report and then gone fishing, only to find out that you can’t lose bait that is the way it is this time of year.  We have plenty of fish on the bay.  Trout, redfish, bluefish, flounder, snook, sheepshead and some nice keeper size gag grouper have also moved in to the bay.  The fish haven’t left, but the wind, barometer and temperature all play a part in how well the fish will chew.  I often use the phrase “Good weather, good fishing” but this is not completely true when it is applied to catching.  You can have blue skies, low wind and a comfortable temperature but a very steady and high barometer.  Steady high pressure is not good for the bite but often comes with a nice day just to go fishing.

The offshore bottom fishing has been good for grouper and snapper but the sea conditions have been rough at times.  Some of the fishermen have come back looking like Kermit the frog.  The Cudahole area and “M” reefs have been the focal points for most of the boats.  Closer to the beach on the “I” reefs we have found sheepshead, gag grouper, flounder and smaller snapper.

Just go fishing when you can, keep it safe and let Mother Nature work out the details.  I have see some of the best fish caught on what would have been called a bad day.

Enjoy & Protect

My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Thank you!

Capt. Bob Smith

2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239

Phone: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: (941) 362-4040

My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

January 11, 2004

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report

By Capt. Bob Smith

With the wind and passing fronts this week, I am left with little to say about fishing.  I found trout over most of the bay on Thursday, but the larger, keeper size trout were closer to the shore line.

Places like Otter Key were holding some nice trout along the edge of the channel.  Zwicks canal was also holding some nice fish.  Any small patch of grass close to a drop-off can hold larger fish this time of year.  Fish the edge of the drop-off and only expect a keeper or two, then move on to another spot.  The pattern was a couple of good fish then all small fish but that can change anytime and often does.

We found bluefish in Big Pass.  It was not a good run but small schools here and there averaged not much more than a pound each per fish.  When we did find them, everyone hooked-up and we had some fun on the light tackle.  Some people do like to eat them.  This time of year you can always find the sheepshead around pylons, rocks in the passes and most of the docks and bridges.  Along with the sheepshead, you can catch snapper, flounder, redfish and black seabass.

Enjoy & Protect

My Web Site:  www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

January 4, 2004
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

The fishing has been stable with the good weather of the last few weeks.
With highs and lows, we have been able to find keeper size grouper and
snapper offshore.   The further offshore you go, the more you find.  Lately
I have been fishing close in on natural bottom at about a thirty foot depth.
Using live shrimp for bait and fishing on the bottom, we caught a large
variety of fish.  Gag grouper, mangrove snapper, flounder, black seabass,
scamp and sheepshead to name a few.  It was hard to catch a grouper 22" or
over but we did get some.

On the bay, we had plenty of seatrout on the grass-flats.  The action was
fast but most of the fish were under the legal size of 15".  Bluefish were
hot at times in the passes and sheepshead were hanging around the rocks and
some docks.  You could find redfish around the backwater docks but there
were no good runs that I know of, however some nice fish have been caught.

In all, the fishing has been fun the last couple of weeks!  No big headlines
but we have been able to keep the rods bent most of the time.  I am looking
forward to larger gag grouper to come closer in and maybe even into the bay.
They do this sometimes.  It is also time for a good run of flounder.
Flounder have been light the last few of years since we had a bad red tide.
If they come back this year, I usually find most of the big ones in with the
large gags.

Enjoy & Protect
My Web Site:  www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com




Capt. Bob Smith,      Thank you!
Mail: 2529 Temple St. Sarasota FL 34239
Office: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: 362-4040
Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

December 21, 2003

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report

By Capt. Bob Smith

This is the time of year that an old cliché “Good Weather, Good Fishing” comes into play and so on.  The weather has been both good and bad for this December and the fishing has followed.  The good news is that most of the species don’t leave, they just take a break and wait for the front to pass.

The action has been hot in the Cudahole area or any good bottom along the coast in 45 to 50 feet of water.  Mangrove snapper and grouper (black/gag) have been on the bite.  Live shrimp, pinfish and small grunts as always are the top baits for more fish but other baits will work too.  It is shrimp for the snapper and fish for the grouper.  Grouper love shrimp but the competition is stiff and the smaller reef fish are faster.  Eight to twelve pound test line will work best for snapper but is often too light for keeper size grouper.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish were hot along the beaches but the water had gotten too muddy on my last trip.

On the bay grass-flats, we found some nice sea trout and ladyfish.  Sheepshead are in the passes and around the docks and rocks.  Bay fishermen are picking up a variety of fish especially if using live shrimp, but not too many of any one species.  The larger snook should have gone up the river looking for warmer water by now.

Enjoy & Protect

My Web Site:  www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Capt. Bob Smith,      Thank you!

Mail: 2529 Temple St. Sarasota FL 34239

Office: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: 362-4040

Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

December 14, 2003

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report

By Capt. Bob Smith

I did get out last week and the fishing was non-stop catching!  Spanish mackerel and bluefish were taking live shrimp on a free-line and I am sure they would have taken small jigs and spoons.   We kept 30 of the mackerel (split 4 ways) and released as many bluefish and some of the macks.  All of the fish were small but legal size.  The mackerel were running between 14 and 16 inches, bluefish, about 12 inches.  We used light tackle, eight pound test line on Shakespeare 2052 reels.  Some schools of little-tunny were blasting the large schools of bait fish all around the boat but we had no pickups.  If they had, I am sure they would have stripped our light reels.  This is no war story, but it was a fun day.

Snapper and grouper are still being caught in the Cudahole area.  That is if you can find a nice day to run out.

Enjoy & Protect

www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Capt. Bob Smith,      Thank you!

Mail: 2529 Temple St. Sarasota FL 34239

Office: (941) 366-2159 / FAX: 362-4040

Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

December 6, 2003



Sarasota Florida Fishing Report



By Capt. Bob Smith



Although the weekend has brought us some bad boating weather, the fishing
has been good to excellent!  The bay grass-flats have had plenty of action
with trout, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and some bluefish.  There has been
limited action with redfish and small snook around the docks and back water.



We found plenty of Spanish mackerel, bluefish and an occasional cobia or
small sharks along the beach.  Live whitebait or artificial baits trolled or
casting worked best.  Chumming with live bait will keep the fish around the
boat.  There have also been plenty of baitfish schools running along the
coast and offshore.



Mangrove snapper are hot at the Cudahole!  The snapper have been averaging
two to four pounds and are best fished with live shrimp on light tackle.  I
use eight to twelve pound test line with thirty to forty pound test mono
leader and a split-shot, about a quarter ounce shot.  This will make a big
difference in the number of snapper you catch.  If the current is strong,
you may need to add more shot.  You can't let the fish run here due to the
structure.  If you begin to get broken off often, it may be grouper, so try
a bigger rod.  I like to fish the natural structure rather than the
artificial reefs.  I find less large predators to grab your fish on the way
up.  Jewfish and barracudas love to hang out on larger structures at the "M"
reefs.



Enjoy & Protect



My Web Site:  www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


Capt. Bob Smith     Thank you!
Mail  2529 Temple St. Sarasota FL 34239
Office    941 366-2159 / Fax:941 362-4040
URL    http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

November 8, 2003

Sarasota Fla. Fishing Report

By Capt. Bob Smith

This has been a good Fall run for the Sarasota area.  Kingfish, cobia,
redfish, Spanish mackerel, blacktip shark, spinner shark, barracuda,
seatrout and pompano are just some of the fish coming in.  Some have
complained the kings could be thicker and larger.  They are if you use live
bait. This year the kings are only three miles off the beach and we have
plenty of baitfish in the same area that can be easily caught.

When rigging for the toothy critters, I use 6" of light wire with 4' of
forty-pound test mono leader and a 5/0 hook.  I would kick it up a notch if
looking for the larger sharks but most of the sharks' hookups are on already
hooked fish.

The "I" artificial reefs are hot but you would need to move further offshore
the "M" reefs and beyond for better grouper and snapper fishing.

Remember that artificial reefs are good focal points but you could find fish
at the same depth on any good bottom.  This is good to remember if you find
the artificial reefs overcrowded with boats.  My first question is always
"What was the depth of the water where you found fish"?  Then I may ask "
North or South"?  This will give me a chance to try one of my spots at the
same depth and not crowd nor advertise the giver's exact location.

Enjoy and Protect

For more information on Sarasota's Sportfishing, please visit my Website:
http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com




Thank You!

Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota FL  34239
(941) 366-2159/350-8583
http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

October 18, 2003

Sarasota Fla. Fishing Report

By Capt. Bob Smith

The fall run is on!  Friday morning we found the water flat along the beach
and the "I" reefs.  Large kingfish, little tunny, barracuda and Spanish
mackerel were smashing large schools of baitfish, including some little
schools of small ballyhoo.  Cobia and bull reds were also prowling the area.
The Spanish were chewing hard on the closer reefs but the big kings were
picky and probably feeding on the Spanish.  We fished "Lost" reef and found
some cobia.  Bill Sjoblom landed a nice fish just under thirty pounds on
light tackle.  This cobia took a bluerunner on the way in.

Large kings up to thirty pounds were also caught around the "Cuda Hole".
Snapper and grouper are regularly being caught in this area and most of the
"M" reefs when using live bait on the bottom.

The fishing slowed for us around mid day but started to pickup with the
Westerly in the afternoon.  Bay fishing has been very good but not 24/7.
Redfish, Snook, trout, Spanish mackerel and some nice pompano are being
caught regularly but will have highs and lows.  Snook and reds are showing
up around the docks and behind Otter Key. The rest of our action has been on
the grass-flats. Steven's Point and Country Club Shores have been two good
spots.

Enjoy and Protect

For more information on Sarasota's Sportfishing, please visit my Website:
http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com




Thank You!

Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota FL  34239
(941) 366-2159/350-8583
http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

September 17, 2003

Sarasota Fla. Fishing Report

By Capt. Bob Smith

The fishing is getting better!  There are plenty of spotted seatrout and
Spanish mackerel on the grass flats.  Mangrove snapper are being caught
along the rocks and docks in the passes.  Cobias are starting to show up on
the "I" reefs and rock piles along the beaches.  It is not hot but much
better.

Snook have been on the bite for sport fisherman and people chumming with
live whitebait.  First light has been a good time for most.  The trout and
mackerel have been taking live shrimp, whitebait, small pinfish or grunts,
poppers or free-line.  The snapper like to feed on the bottom or close to
it.  Live shrimp is the best but cut bait will work.

Along the beach in 20 to 30 feet of water, I have been finding cobia and
some cuda.  They have been following in any hooked blue runners or grunts.
It is good to have a second rod ready with a larger hook.  Flip or drop a
live shrimp or fish in front of them and you should get a hook-up.  You can
also fish a live pinfish just off the bottom. This could also produce a
keeper size grouper.

Enjoy and Protect

For more information on Sarasota's Sportfishing, please visit my Website:
http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com


Thank You!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
(941)366-2159,  Cell (941)350-8583
Website: www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com
New email: sarasotafishing@verizon.net

August 22, 2003

Sarasota Fla. Fishing Report

By Capt. Bob Smith

It has been several weeks of on/off Redtide and heavy rain with flooding
conditions that caused a lot of run-off into the bay.  The wind stayed out
of the SW and brought us early morning thundershowers, which is not the norm
for August.  We have ended up canceling all of the August charters so far.
The effect of the Redtide was modest and the fish were there, they just had
lockjaw.

The snook fishing has been OK in the passes, especially if you do a lot of
chumming with live whitebait.  Also in the passes, some snapper and redfish
are being caught.  Trout and mackerel are spotty around the bay but are also
being caught.

There have been large Spanish mackerel caught 12 to 15 miles offshore, just
past the artificial reef "M-7".  You can find some nice snapper well
offshore around the M reefs but not much close in on the "I" reefs.

When the weather starts to get stable, the fishing should improve!  It doesn
't look like this weekend is going to be it.

Enjoy and Protect

For more information on Sarasota's Sportfishing, please visit my Website:
http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com



Thank You!
Capt. Bob Smith
2529 Temple St. Sarasota, FL 34239
(941)366-2159,  Cell (941)350-8583
Website: www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com
New email: sarasotafishing@verizon.net